𝑂𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙....
In a world of bloody war and misgivings that lead to treason, there is only one thing Catherine Percy can be sure of and that is danger.
Her life had not always been thus, f...
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~Winter's War~
The coldness of Autumn had frozen the heat of summer away, draining the rich green of the leaves away into oranges and browns that fell to the floor in a carpet of dull colour. Water droplets that shone like jewels rained down from the heavens, clouded with grey, and soon hearths had to be lit day and night, cloaks worn and furs heaved onto beds.
Still, Haddon Hall was warm with murmurings, with news that flew through the manor as if carried on the wings of an angel who called out to each he saw! 'Come back for me' Catherine had told Edward and he had promised that he would, she had believed that he would but now.....she knew he would not.
Contrary to George's doubts, just a month after he had spoken them, the Nevilles and the eldest of the York brood had returned to England, successfully capturing the capital and receiving a royal welcome from the people! The Duke of York himself, along with his second son, had followed, arriving in London in October to the welcome worthy of a King!
George had been dancing a jig for days and so had the servants! Caskets of wine and ale had been opened to celebrate the return of the Yorkists and each drank merrily to their good health. All except Catherine.
While they were drunk on their merriness, she was drunk on her despair, keeping to her room when she heard Queen Marguerite and her Prince had fled to Scotland, leaving King Henry in York care in London! The Lancastrian faction had been divided more than the Yorkist one ever had and soon the Act of Accord was passed. It was a law Cathrine despised, for it read that once King Henry was dead, York and his brood would take the throne.
It disinherited her Prince Edward, making him little more than a bastard in the eyes of the law! Queen Marguerite would surely not allow it, she thought. England had never seen a Queen as strong willed as she and to even begin to believe that she would let her son's throne be taken away from him without a fight was impossible!
She would fight until the last breath left her body, Catherine knew, she would fight even if she was captured!
And she was right.
꧁꧂
November 1460, Haddon Hall....
"My Lady! My Lady you must wake!"
Catherine woke with a start to Agnes' bony hands shaking her to the present. The old woman held and urgency in her voice, one that made her mistress sit up in her bed, grappling for her velvet robe which Agnes quickly wrapped around her.
"What is it?" The girl hurriedly whispered, only then noticing that behind the curtains of her bedchamber it was still dark, it was still night "What is it?" She asked again when Agnes took her hand and pulled her from the warm confines of her bed. The old woman did not answer, instead leading her Lady through her solar and onto the winding staircase that took them down to the great hall.
